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Marijuana Policy Project



Last Updated: 12/2/2009

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Age: 24
State: Washington DC
Country: US
Signup Date: 2/7/2005

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Monday, July 06, 2009 

Current mood:  inquisitive

Okay, let me say right up front that a) I know that headline is provocative, and b) neither I nor anyone can answer the question with any certainty given what we know and don’t know so far about Michael Jackson’s death. But the question needs to be asked.

It needs to be asked because suspicions that prescription painkillers may have been involved in Jackson’s death are strong enough that the federal Drug Enforcement Administration has been brought into the investigation. And we know that he had a documented history of battling pain and at least some acknowledged problems with prescription painkillers.

We don’t know yet what pain drugs Jackson was on or what they were prescribed for. But if he was addicted to prescription painkillers, that addiction almost certainly started with legitimate and needed treatment for real pain. And that’s where medical marijuana might have helped.

We know — repeat, we know — that marijuana can be effective against certain types of pain. As The Lancet Neurology put it a few years ago, “cannabinoids inhibit pain in virtually every experimental pain paradigm.” We know that human clinical trials such as this one have found marijuana to be effective, particularly for neuropathic pain.

And there is considerable evidence that marijuana and cannabinoids can act synergistically with opioid painkillers, providing better pain relief at lower doses than either class of drugs by itself. For example animal studies have reported that such combination therapy avoids the development of tolerance and allows effective relief with lowered opioid doses — avoiding the pattern of escalating doses that can lead to addiction and overdose risk.

And there is evidence that this same effect occurs in people. For example, in a series of cases reported in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management (which, alas, you can only access by paying for it — sorry!), patients on morphine and other narcotics were able to cut their doses roughly in half when smoked marijuana was added to their regimen.

At MPP, we hear similar stories from patients all the time: Again and again, patients tell us that use of medical marijuana allows them to cut back or eliminate the heavy doses of narcotic painkillers they’d been taking, while obtaining equal or better relief. There is enough science corroborating these accounts that they deserve to be taken seriously.

We can’t yet say that medical marijuana could have saved Michael Jackson, and we may never know that for sure. But there is simply no reasonable doubt that marijuana can help some chronic pain patients reduce both their suffering and their consumption of addictive and potentially deadly narcotics. If the U.S. government acknowledged that reality instead of denying it, lives could be saved — maybe lots of them.

4:29 PM 
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Thursday, June 25, 2009 

Current mood:  hopeful
Today the New Hampshire Legislature approved a medical marijuana bill custom tailored to addresses the governor’s concerns in hopes of avoiding a veto that would leave the state’s medical marijuana patients vulnerable to arrest, even if they have their doctor’s recommendation.

Gov. John Lynch told lawmakers that he would veto the bill in its original form, which passed both chambers last month, if eight specific concerns of his were not addressed.

A special legislative committee spent the past month revising the bill according to those eight concerns, which you can view here, along with how the revised bill that the Legislature passed today addresses them.

The question now is whether the governor was sincere about finding a workable compromise that meets the needs of medical marijuana patients. In the next couple weeks, we’ll be reminding the governor of the seriously ill who are depending on him to do the right thing by purchasing radio and TV ad time highlighting the patients whose lives hang in the balance.

If you’re a New Hampshire resident, you can let Gov. Lynch know it's time for him to allow this much-needed reform (https://ssl.capwiz.com/mpp/issues/alert/?alertid=13158661) and stop the prosecution of patients for simply trying to relieve their pain with a proven safe, effective medicine.
4:30 PM 
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Friday, June 19, 2009 

Current mood:  electric
So far, our MySpace friends have sent over 150 letters to Congress in support of H.R. 2943. We are getting closer to our goal of sending 5,000 letters, but we still need 431 more.

In case you need more convincing, here is some information about the bill:

On June 18, Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank (D) introduced the Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults Act of 2009 (H.R. 2943), which would ensure that fewer adults go to jail for small amounts of marijuana.

This bill proves that America has come a long way—but it faces serious opposition in Congress. The climate is favorable to reform, so it’s up to us to show Congress the public wants to stop arresting adults for marijuana use.

We want to make sure your congressman's inbox is full with letters about marijuana policy reform. If you haven't yet, please send a letter now using our easy tool:

Write a letter today.

Thank you for your support! Only 431 more to reach our goal!


4:25 PM 
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Thursday, June 18, 2009 

Current mood:  excited
Congressman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) introduced legislation today to remove criminal penalties for marijuana possession at the federal level. The Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults Act of 2009 would remove penalties for possession of up to 3.5 ounces of marijuana and the not-for-profit transfer of 1 ounce.


Congressman Frank’s legislation seeks to bring federal law in line with reality. 99% of all marijuana arrests occur at the state and local level. In practice, federal laws prohibiting marijuana possession act as a deterrent to states that may want a more sensible policy. Congressman Frank’s bill would remove that deterrent and push U.S. marijuana policy in the right direction.

The bill’s introduction comes amidst unprecedented momentum for reform, but it will still face significant opposition in Congress — so please visit mpp.org/federal-action and take action today!


9:22 PM 
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Saturday, June 13, 2009 

Current mood:  accomplished
Congressman Barney Frank introduced legislation yesterday aimed at making marijuana available through a doctor’s prescription nationwide.
Please help MPP support H.R. 2835, by e-mailing and calling your U.S. Representative. MPP’s online resources at mpp.org/federal-action make it quick and easy to ask your legislator to cosponsor this important legislation.


H.R. 2835 makes two important changes to federal law. First, it eliminates federal authority to interfere with patients, caregivers, and collectives operating in accordance with state medical marijuana laws. Second, it moves marijuana from Schedule I under the Controlled Substances Act into Schedule II. Schedule II drugs have recognized medical benefits and can be prescribed by doctors to patients in need (for example, morphine is a Schedule II drug).
Congressman Frank’s legislation comes after months of growing debate over marijuana policy reform, but it will still face significant opposition in Congress — so please visit mpp.org/federal-action and do your part today!
5:30 PM 
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Friday, June 12, 2009 

Current mood:  curious

Membership & Events Fellow


The Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), the nation's largest marijuana policy reform organization, has an opening for a full-time, paid fellow to assist its Membership and Grants & Outreach departments. The fellowship pays $9 per hour and requires a minimum four-month commitment.

This position is a chance to play a crucial and responsible role in two different areas of a successful nonprofit organization. Candidates should expect a fast-paced, professional environment and should have excellent oral and written communications skills and be meticulous, organized, and detail-oriented.

The Grants & Outreach department coordinates MPP's special events and manages MPP's grants program, which dispenses grants in support of efforts that foster measurable changes in marijuana policy.
The Membership department coordinates MPP's fundraising, conducts donor research, oversees communications with members, maintains MPP's member database, processes donations, and submits grant applications.

The fellow's time will be divided between the two departments. Duties include:

* Researching donors; 
* Conducting outreach and promotion for celebrity fundraisers;
* Maintaining inventory;
* Working within MPP’s member database;
* Providing logistical and administrative event support; and
* Other tasks as needed.

Candidates should have excellent written and oral communication skills, strong analytical ability, strong initiative and work ethic, and fastidious attention to detail.

To apply for this position, please visit MPP's application guidelines and follow the instructions listed there.

With 36 staffers, more than 26,000 dues-paying members, and 100,000 e-mail subscribers nationwide, MPP is the largest marijuana policy reform organization in the United States. MPP works to minimize the harm associated with marijuana — both the consumption of marijuana and the laws that are intended to prohibit its use — and believes that the greatest harm associated with marijuana is imprisonment.

2:43 PM 
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Wednesday, June 03, 2009 

Current mood:  argumentative
Contact your representative now.

Dear MPP Staff List:

Currently, someone possessing less than an ounce of marijuana in Vermont can go to jail for up to six months and be fined up to $500! MPP and our allies in Vermont are working to reduce these harsh penalties.

Earlier this year, Rep. David Zuckerman (P-Burlington) introduced H.150 and Sen. Jeanette White (D-Putney) introduced S.71. These companion bills would reduce the penalty for possessing up to an ounce of marijuana to simply a $100 civil fine. And those caught would be able to pay the ticket through the mail, like a traffic ticket.

It's important that your legislators hear from you now so they know that reforming Vermont's marijuana laws should be a priority. Please contact your representative now and urge him or her to support this sensible legislation.

The legislature put other priorities first this year and has adjourned without holding hearings on either bill. However, both bills are still alive and the legislature can consider them when it reconvenes in January.

Have you or someone you know ever been arrested for possessing less than an ounce of marijuana in Vermont? If so, please e-mail state@mpp.org. It will be important for the legislature to hear from people who have been negatively affected by the state's harsh marijuana laws.

While the legislature is out of session fewer people generally contact their representatives about issues. So now is a particularly good time to urge your legislators to support H.150 and S.71.

Thank you for supporting MPP and our allies in Vermont. Please pass this message on to anyone in Vermont who might be interested in marijuana policy reform.

Sincerely,



Zane Hurst
Legislative Analyst
Marijuana Policy Project
7:06 PM 
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Friday, May 29, 2009 

Category: News and Politics

Dear MPP Supporter :

For the first time in history, a modern medical marijuana bill was introduced in the Delaware Senate by Senator Margaret Rose Henry (D-Wilmington). S.B. 94, which is based on MPP's model bill, will remove criminal sanctions for the medical use of marijuana by seriously ill patients, and will provide a system of safe access through state-licensed compassion centers. In the first step towards creating lasting legal protections, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee will hold a hearing next Wednesday, June 3, in the Senate Hearing Room, on the 2nd floor of theLegislative Hall in Dover, at 2:00 p.m. Sen. Henry is the chair of the committee, and two other committee members have co-sponsored the bill, along with another senator and two representatives.

Our work has just begun: we need your help to educate legislators. If you are a patient, a loved one, a medical professional, or a member of law enforcement or the clergy who might be interested in speaking out, please contact me at state@mpp.org to see how you can be of special help in passing this legislation. Please include your nine-digit ZIP code or your address so we can identify your legislators, and please share your connection with medical marijuana.

Yesterday, Sen. Henry held a very successful press conference on the bill's introduction which generatedgreat coverage. Sen. Henry stated "Modern science shows us that marijuana can have beneficial effects for people suffering from a number of conditions including cancer, multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, and HIV-AIDS." Joe Scarborough, an AIDS and cancer survivor, explained "Smoking marijuana has helped with the pain and nausea associated with the drugs I take for AIDS as well as chemotherapy, and it has helped with pain caused by my nerve damage." And Dr. John Goodill, chief of pain and palliative medicine at Christiana Care, spoke out in favor of the bill as well, because it's based on a proven model that has produced good results for patients.

To keep Delaware's bill moving, legislators need to know that their constituents care about this issue. So please take a few moments to use our automated system to write your legislators, and let us know if they are willing to co-sponsor and vote for S.B. 94.

Together, we can make Delaware the 14th state to allow the doctor-advised medical use of marijuana. Thank you for your support. Please pass this on to any patients you know who might be interested in getting involved.

Sincerely,

Noah Mamber's signature

Noah Mamber
Legislative Analyst
Marijuana Policy Project


P.S.  If any of the links above don't work, please visit http://control.mpp.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=33841.0&dlv_id=26821 .

12:36 AM 
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Thursday, May 28, 2009 

Category: News and Politics

Dear MPP Supporter :

Both chambers of the state legislature have approved SB 1058, which would establish a task force to examine crucial issues surrounding Hawaii's medical marijuana law. The bill is now sitting on Gov. Linda Lingle's desk awaiting her signature.

Please send an e-mail to Gov. Lingle today asking her to sign this bill into law.

While Gov. Lingle may sign SB 1058 into law at any time, she has until June 30 to signal her intent to veto SB 1058; however, if she has taken no action on it by July 15, the bill will become law with or without her signature.

After you have e-mailed Gov. Lingle, please follow up with a call, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., in support of SB 1058.

If SB 1058 becomes law, the task force will have 13 members, including a registered patient and two physicians. Once established, the taskforce would: (1) Examine current state statutes, state administrative rules, and all county policies and procedures relating to the medical marijuana program; (2) Examine all issues and obstacles that qualifying patients have encountered with the program; (3) Examine all issues and obstacles that state and county law enforcement agencies have encountered with the program; (4) Compare and contrast Hawaii's medical marijuana program with other state programs; and (5) Address other issues and perform any other function necessary as the task force deems appropriate relating to the program.

Please be sure to forward this alert to others in Hawaiiso they too can contact Gov. Lingle in support of SB 1058.

Sincerely,

Nathan Miller's signature

Nathan Miller
Legislative Analyst
Marijuana Policy Project


P.S.  If the links above don't work, please visit http://control.mpp.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=33681.0&dlv_id=26701 .

1:27 PM 
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Wednesday, May 27, 2009 

Category: News and Politics

Dear MPP Supporter :

Moments ago, the Illinois Senate passed the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act, also known as SB 1381, by a vote of 30-28. SB 1381 would allow seriously ill patients with diseases like cancer, HIV/AIDS, and multiple sclerosis to use marijuana if recommended by their doctor. If this legislation becomes law, patients with a state-issued ID card would be allowed to possess up to six plants and 2 ounces of usable marijuana.

Many thanks to everyone who helped make this victory possible, including the thousands of you who contacted your legislators in support of this legislation and those of you who generously donated. Special thanks are in order for the brave patients like Julie Falco, Lucie Macfarlane, and Lisa Lange Van Camp who have spoken out and worked tirelessly advocating for this legislation.

While this is a tremendous step forward, our work is not done. SB 1381 now moves to the House for consideration, where the Human Services Committee approved a companion bill in March.

Here are a couple of things you can do to help keep SB 1381 moving forward:

Write a letter to the editor. If you have something personal to say about this issue, getting your opinion printed in the local newspaper is a great way to remind voters and legislators alike that Illinois needs a medical marijuana law.

Ask your doctor, clergy member, local leader, or organization you are a member of to sign our statement of principle. Simply print it out and ask your doctor or other individual to sign it the next time you have the opportunity. Then send it to us at P.O. Box 77492, Washington, DC 20013.

Using MPP's sign-up sheets, collect as many valid e-mail addresses as you can and send them to us. You can scan and e-mail the information you collect toNathan@mpp.org or mail it to MPP legislative analyst Nathan Miller at P.O. Box 77492, Washington, DC 20013.

The Marijuana Policy Project thanks you for your support and all that you have done to help forward this legislation. Because of people like you, patients like these may no longer have to live in fear of arrest for using a medicine that works for them. Please forward this alert along to other Illinoisans who might also be interested in putting an end to the criminalization of our sick and dying.

Sincerely,

 Nathan Miller's signature

Nathan Miller
Legislative Analyst
Marijuana Policy Project


P.S.  If the links above don't work, please visit http://control.mpp.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=33081.0&dlv_id=26781 .

11:25 PM 
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